Touring and Camping Holidays In Kent This Spring
Touring and Camping Holidays In Kent This Spring
Kent, the Garden of England, is the perfect spot for a touring or camping holiday this spring. The picturesque landscapes are dotted with oast houses and flint, ragstone and timber buildings. If you’re lucky, you may spot a hop farm which still grow hops for local breweries. Lavender farms dot the countryside in the warmer months and you will often experience slightly higher temperatures when the weather from Europe touches on the south coast of England.
A favourite for many families and couples wanting to remain near London and perhaps take a day trip to France, Kent is perfectly situated for all types of holiday; active, peaceful, city adventures and horticultural delights. The whole south east region has much to be explored.
There are lots of reasons to visit Kent, and many special places to explore. Come with us on a whistlestop tour.
Beautiful Beaches
Famous for the white cliffs, these high chalk structures look out onto the English Channel, giving far-reaching views toward the French coast at Dover. The geological formations stretch much further than Dover, and Margate also has chalk cliffs which border the stunning beaches.
A little further along the coast, you will reach Botany Bay in Broadstairs, a much loved local sandy beach. When the tide is out it is great for fossils and exploring rock pools. There is plenty of exposed sand to enjoy when the tide is in but due to its shape at high tide the ends of the beach are cut off.
Turner Contemporary Art Gallery
The whole East Kent area has undergone considerable regeneration in recent years. The Turner Contemporary art gallery opened in 2011 and attracts artist from across the country. Entrance is free, which means an inexpensive visit to this unique part of Kent. The gallery with a catalyst for the regeneration of the area, and the naming denotes the association of the town with the noted landscape painter JMW Turner, who went to school in the town and visited throughout his life.
The well known white building is a highlight on the Margate Bay frontage, very easy to locate and with plenty of excellent pubs and restaurants in the town to enjoy after visiting.
Dungeness
We move further along the south coast now to a truly unique spot. Perhaps not the most obvious place to visit, but well loved by locals, is Dungeness. While there are other local beaches that attract more attention, this area is desolate to say the least. However, it’s also a spectacular ecological site and houses the largest shingle beach in the UK. The elephant in the room is… the nuclear power station! In fact not one, but two! They are within a wildlife sanctuary designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and birds flourish in the warmer water created by the station’s outflow.
The most famous house in Dungeness is Prospect Cottage, which was purchased by the film producer and artist Derek Jarman in the 1980s. He turned the Victorian fishing hut into a thoroughly unique home, along with a very unusual garden.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
As we move toward mid Kent from the East, we discover this well loved forest. Bedgebury is home to the largest pinetum in the world. It is globally recognised for species conservation, scientific advancement and the understanding of conifers. It provides a stunning environment (a Grade II listed landscape) for walking, picnics and photo opportunities!
There are miles of family cycling and mountain-biking paths, running and walking trails and you might also spot a Gruffalo hiding in the woods! Loved by locals, it is perfect for all levels of fitness and horticultural knowledge.
Beautiful Architecture
Kent is well known for stunning architecture, with flint, ragstone and timber buildings present in all the pretty villages and towns. The Great Stour river in Canterbury is surrounded by beautiful examples of timber structured houses.
Oast houses are probably the most famous of all, and almost entirely unique to Kent. They are also known as hop kilns, and were found in hop growing areas, as they were part of the hop drying that led to the brewing process. This oast is at Sissinghurst, a National Trust property not far from the county town of Maidstone.
Apple Orchards
The village of Marden in West Kent hosted a fruit growing festival for 50 years. While it no longer takes places, this area of Kent was prime apple growing territory. Not far from the Hop Farm at Pembury, this was ideal argicultural land. This area also provides easy access to London and East Sussex so we wanted to highlight as a great place to stop over at.
Tanner Farm Touring Caravan and Camping Park is based in Marden, in the heart of the Kent countryside. Rural and peaceful, the park never feels busy as the pitches are laid out over 15 acres, with the park totalling 36 acres. It is spacious, perfect for camping and touring. They are a family friendly park and look forward to welcoming your canine companion too!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our whistlestop tour of interesting places to visit in Kent! If you’re looking for 5 star rated, independent holiday parks, Best of British have 45 locations in England, Scotland and Wales. We cater for families, tranquil adult only breaks and holidays with your canine companion!
